Just in time to celebrate his 96^th birthday, a Western New Yorker now has his World War II medals.

Edward Dzieciuch enlisted at the age of 17, becoming a paratrooper in the storied 506^th Parachute Infantry Regiment in the 101^st Airborne Division.

He parachuted into Normandy during the D-Day Invasion and later Operation Market Garden in Holland.

During the Battle of the Bulge, he and his company helped hold the critical city of Bastogne.

As U.S. Forces made it deeper into Germany, Dzieciuch was there for the capture of the Eagle’s Nest, Adolf Hitler’s mountaintop residents, and even stumbled upon his personal car.

During his more than two years of service, Dzieciuch earned the Army of Occupation Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, two Bronze Service Stars, the Good Conduct Medal, World War II Victory Medal and the Honorable Service Lapel Button.